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Estonian soldier killed while on patrol
From Estonian-language BNS, Compiled and EFL Junior Sergeant Andres Nuiamae of the Estonian peacekeeping platoon ESTPLA-8 was killed in a blast in the Iraqi capital Baghdad Saturday evening, the countryâs top military commander said at a press conference Sunday. The explosive device lay partially buried in earth and was covered with garbage, Defense Forces Commander Tarmo Kouts said. It is not known at this point how the self-made bomb worked or who had planted it, he added. The 21-year-old junior sergeant died immediately. Twelve members of ESTPLA-8 were on a foot patrol near the market of the Abu Ghurayb district of Baghdad when the self-made explosive device went off at 8:55 p.m. local time. No other soldier was injured. "Junior Sergeant Nuiamae was a very capable man. He joined the Scouts Battalion after conscript service, he had served already more than a year, and he was a member of the sniper squad, which means he was calm, composed, and conscientious," commander of the Scouts Battalion Ltn. Col. Artur Tiganik said. The ESTPLA-8 light infantry platoon is serving as part of coalition troops at operation Iraqi Freedom and is subordinated to the 2nd Battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division. Estonia also has a cargo handling team, CT-2, deployed in Iraq. Prime Minister Juhan Parts said it is a duty to always remember in the name of what Junior Sergeant Andres Nuiamae gave his life. "We can never overestimate his courage and readiness to serve both Estonia and all the countries and people that hold dear freedom and democracy," he said. "I am calling on all people who gather for Sunday church services all over Estonia today to pray for Andres Nuiamae, for his close ones, as well as for all the Estonian soldiers who with their work in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to help ensure the security of the Estonian state and the people," Parts said. "Everyone of us can express it by putting his signature into the book of condolences that will be opened at the Ministry of Defense. Our common obligation to Andres Nuiamae is immense." The Estonian parliament is set to discuss a government bill soon that will extend the mission of Estonian troops in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq by one year until June 20, 2005. Chairman of the parliamentâs national defense committee, Sven Mikser, advised those people who have doubts about whether Estonian soldiers should participate in missions outside their country to think about the 1918-1920 War of Independence. "People who stood for Estoniaâs interests were killed then too. Like back then, also now we should think of them as heroes," he said. Posted by: Scott 2004-02-29 |
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